love; that they become so holy that they will be blameless on the day of reckoning. Love to other Christians is a proof that we are children of the God whose nature is love. Love to others was the badge of distinc tion that Christ exhorted His fol lowers to wear (John 13:35). This love is no mere sentiment or transitory emotion that easily fades. Rather it is a passion for seeking the good of others what ever the cost, even to the laying down of life for a brother (I John 3:16). How urgently we need to love one another! Hatred and bitter persecution will mark the last days of the age. Even closest rel atives will betray one another. In tensifying our love for them is the essential compensation. True love will sanctify us. It is the spring of holiness. Such holi ness is the “purity which is the image of God; and every element of which will stand the inspection and meet with His approval” (Eadie). Our lives must bum with love to God or they will never be holy. Temptation is strong; around us are many incitements to sin; laxity of morals has reached a new low. Love for God will help us to receive the grace that will enable us to live pure lives when many around us are failing. We are to be established in purity. The word for ‘stablish’ is used of the permanent preserva tion of creation. Our holiness is to be lasting, not spasmodic or temporary; to be as solid and as unshakeable as creation. Paul prays that the Thessa- lonians’ holiness may be compre hensive, “your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blame less” (I Thess. 5:23). Sanctifica tion is to cover the spiritual, per sonal and bodily aspects of life. Their spirits would be blameless when there was no sin to disturb their fellowship with God; their souls would be blameless when every motive and personal action was pure; their bodies would be blameless when their contact with 37
Second Advent will see men de parting from the faith. We could despair; but the study of the Word of God gives us hope (Rom. 15:4). The Bible will tell us what to expect in the world as Christ’s coming approaches our doors. We can know it thoroughly, only through constant study. Our attitude towards the Word of God is vital especially just now. Some men are denying its accuracy because they think sci ence contradicts it. Others are ignoring its teachings. Yet others accept false cults. We are fore warned that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, h av in g itching ears; And they shall turn away . . . from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4:3 & 4). Also, that “in the latter times” some will give “heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1). We shall avoid the perils of the cults and other false teachers, only as we draw our convictions from the Bible, and hold these convictions with assurance . The Thessalonian acceptance of the authority of the Word of God was for Paul a cause of rejoicing. A man of wide and deep sym pathies, he had a burning love for other Christians. He could look beyond his personal blessings and thank God for the spiritual prog ress made by others. We too thank God for every Christian who ac cepts the full authority of the Word of God and lives accord ing to its teaching. Further, whole-hearted reliance on the Word of God is a firm foundation for spiritual growth. Paul prays: “The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holi ness before God” (I Thess. 3:12 & 13). We pray for our fellow-Chris- tians that they may overflow with
powerful and active today, “effec tually worketh,” not by some magical means, but by God’s al mighty power. The word Paul uses for th e Bible’s effectual working in human life is mainly used in Scripture of superhuman working. As we search the Word of God and accept its teachings, it molds and shapes our lives, uniquely. The Word of God ap plied by the Spirit of God draws us closer to our Father in Heaven and away from the world, the flesh and the Devil. Not only is the Word of God fundamental in salvation (Rom. 10:17; I Peter 1:23), sanctifica tion comes through the same Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17), Christ prays. The days immediately preceding the OCTOBER, 1969
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